It’s pretty painfully ironic that if you’re already marginalized, say by being fat and/or poor, that makes it harder to make consumer choices that don’t harm others. Being able to vote with your wallet for a better world takes a lot of privilege–which is why, even though I support ethical shopping, I consider it neither a requirement for activists nor particularly likely to lead to systemic change, as it doesn’t truly challenge existing power structures. If taken to extremes, it can even become a distraction from the kinds of collective action that can actually lead to change.

This all reminds of me a post Sal wrote a while back in which she explained the market realities behind why it’s so hard to find clothes that fit more than one or two of the following consumer expectations: low price, quality construction, available in a variety of sizes, ethical manufacturing processes, and made locally. I appreciate her explanations, but personally, I’m more interested in changing the system. If, under capitalism, clothing made without brutal treatment of workers is a niche market? Then maybe capitalism is the problem. If, under capitalism, clothing that fits the majority of people is a niche market? Again, maybe capitalism is the problem.